Bravemansgame repaid punters that are keeping the faith with a Paul Nicholls' yard not in the best of form.

The Don Of Ditcheat had made no secret of the drop off in performance and had undertaken all sorts of tests to find the cause, yet Bravemansgame took some of the pressure off with a front running Newbury win on Saturday.

The 12-times Champion Trainer was relieved when Bravemansgame prevailed by three and a half lengths and can now look ahead to the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Festival for which his seven-year-old is stalking Galopin Des Champs for favouritism.

While dual King George winner Clan Des Obeaux was well held in the Denman Chase and Hitman was a staying-on third in the Game Spirit, Nicholls also had a winner at Uttoxeter, making it a reasonable day at the office.

Nicholls' dry spell extended to one win in 36 at one stage, but said: "I haven't been able to pinpoint anything at all.
"All the ones that have run today have looked like Bravemansgame. They have done everything right. There has not even been one doubt, that would make you think, 'the horses are coughing or sick' and you don't run them.
"I would put a line through 20 of the ones I ran last week - ground, not good enough, different things.
"In January, you can eliminate a lot of things. That is why I don't get too involved in January, sometimes because of the ground or they have had a flu jab. From now on, we'll start improving.
"The good horses always still run well and the ordinary ones will often run ordinary - you can't do a lot about it."
Bravemansgame will now head to Cheltenham as second-favourite for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase."

READ MORE: Cheltenham Festival 2022 guide: When is it, times, big races, top horses, trainer, jockeys and more.